Brothers & Sisters

This week, we’ll continue our summer-long journey through the second season of Brothers & Sisters, from our perspective here at the end of Season Three. I’ll be looking for contradictions between where the Walkers were then and where they’re at now, and also commenting on how the episodes look in retrospect. I’ll time my observations to the playback of the DVD, for those who want to view along. Share your own reflections in the comments.

And now, Part 1 of Episode 5, “States of the Union.”

00:45
This is the episode in which Sarah got blindsided by Joe’s custody request, isn’t it? As well done as that was, not a ton of fun to watch again.

01:01
I’m interested in the wardrobe choices for Sarah. I very often don’t like what she’s wearing — like this grey dress that looks like it’s maybe related to a religious order of some sort, or maybe on backwards — but it’s definitely a very distinct look. Maybe Sarah needs to go on What Not to Wear and make a change.

01:34
Blatant focus on the permission slip there. Just in case we’d forget, like Sarah.

02:01
In light of what happens later, Joe’s “I figured you might” response to Sarah saying Kevin’s representing her is less, “Yes, thanks for the warning that my former brother-in-law will be going up against me,” than, “Yes, you sucker, I figured you’d go with family while I hire the biggest divorce shark lawyer out there.”

02:14
Travis! Eventually I’ll get over the need to say that every time he appears on the screen. But not yet.

02:52
Travis, to Robert: “Use humor! It makes you seem like a real person.” Robert: “I am a real person.” And Travis just laughs.

03:47
Lovely phone juxtaposition between Kitty retching and Nora pulling out big gobs of pumpkin goop. I think I’m feeling a bit queasy.

04:37
I’m glad that Nora’s excited about grandchildren, but jumping up and down over Kitty’s possibly being pregnant under pretty difficult circumstances calls for maybe a little less glee. I mean, Nora, it’s a baby Republican.

04:59
It says a lot about Lena that she is afraid to get fired because she just bought a really amazing purse that cost her a fortune. The girl’s about as deep as a clutch bag.

05:25
Lena’s not naive, she knows Tommy has a wife and kid, and she doesn’t want to ruin that. So did you ever think about, I don’t know, not sleeping with him in the first place?

06:57
Ouch! The custody stuff. Joe thinks Sarah is unable to provide a stable home. Because, like, she has no ex-spouse to hook up with.

08:11
Love that the first name Nora suggests is “Ainsley.” I’m going to take it as a shout out to Ainsley Hayes of The West Wing whether it’s meant to be or not.

08:34
Busted! Justin overhears the “p” word and witnesses the flight into the pantry. See, Nora, here’s where your plan to medicate him backfires. When he was bedridden and writhing in pain, he couldn’t sneak up on your private conversations.

09:38
Kitty lies to her mom about the plus sign on the pregnancy test. Like that’s going to slow the secret down.

Continue on to Part 2.

Season 1 Retcon Patrol

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Domestic Issues